Details of President Ruto’s Trip to Italy Next Week

President William Ruto has announced that he will undertake an official visit to Italy next week, where he is expected to seek funding for the upgrade of Nyamira County Referral Hospital.

Speaking on Monday, April 13, in Ikonge, Nyamira County, the Head of State said one of his key priorities during the trip will be to secure approximately KSh1 billion to improve the facility.

Ruto noted that he had already dispatched a team to assess the hospital’s condition, which recommended urgent upgrades to enhance service delivery.

“Your hospital needs a bit of work; it is in a rather poor state. I have sent my people to the county government to conduct a survey, and we have agreed that we want to upgrade your hospital,” he said.

“I will be going to Italy next week. Among the things I will be seeking is KSh1 billion for the Nyamira hospital. Shouldn’t we upgrade that hospital?” he added.

At the same time, the President reaffirmed that Nyamira will benefit from a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station, confirming plans to construct a KSh300 million facility in Ikonge to enhance transport of passengers and goods across the region.

“I am the one extending the railway from Naivasha, and here in Ikonge I am constructing a major station worth KSh300 million that will help transport passengers and goods,” Ruto said.

“The people of Nyamira should prepare the goods they want taken to Nairobi. I am putting up a station for you,” he added.

His remarks come as part of ongoing development engagements in Kisii and Nyamira counties, where the government is promoting major infrastructure and health sector investments.

Notably, Ruto’s planned trip to Italy comes two years after his last official visit to the country. On January 28, 2024, he attended the Italy-Africa Summit in Rome, which brought together African heads of state to discuss cooperation in key development areas.

During that visit, he also held bilateral talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on strengthening relations between Kenya and Italy.